Elementary Schools

Elementary School Programs

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For the last 20 years, The OrganWise Guys Inc. has worked with universities, foundations, public and private health organizations, nutrition experts and educators across the country to create a whole child approach to the prevention of childhood obesity.

The Comprehensive School Program (CSP) is a science-based, cost-effective elementary school nutrition and physical activity program that showed statistically significant improvements in program children’s weight and blood pressure measures, as well as significantly higher average standardized test scores, as compared to outcomes of children in non-program schools.

The CSP has assisted numerous schools in achieving the Healthier US School Challenge Gold award, gaining recognition from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Foundation.

In short, The OrganWise Guys will enhance any school’s effort to create a healthier school environment and improve the health status of all members by connecting with kids and encouraging them to become part of the solution.

The OrganWise Guys Programming

is in approximately 10,000 schools

can be found in all 50 states

has reached over 10 million children

is a proven childhood obesity prevention program

is proven to improve test scores

is linked to all state-specific and Common Core standards

costs on average is less than $5 per child per year (based on 3-year program)

has minimal prep time (lesson plans included)

supplements and enhances your current lessons with no time off task for students

Overview and FAQs about our Elementary School Programming

The success of The OrganWise Guys program begins with its comprehensiveness and flexibility as each school has a unique style of delivering education. Over the last 20+ years, we have consulted with educators and partners to design programming that can be tailored to meet the needs of various of school environments. Below is an overview of the entire OrganWise Guys Comprehensive School Program (CSP) as it utilized in large scale projects across the country. Following that are the most frequently asked questions that address, among other things, various approaches to integrate the materials on a scale that can work within different settings and budgets.

We are here to help you create a program that meets your needs in the most cost-effective, targeted way. Please do not hesitate to call us for guidance at 800-786-1730 or click here to set up a short personal webinar with one of our program specialists for further discussion, with no obligation.

What does the full Comprehensive School Kit include?

The CORE KIT

Designed for years of use!

Everything you need to achieve the same proven results from PreK-5th grade throughout your school!

Activity Books

Activity books complement and reinforce the healthy lifestyle behavior lessons taught in the Core Kit materials. Click each book for more details and ordering information. (Note: Grade level content can also be ordered separately for grade specific projects.)

WISERCISE!

Get their motors running with a daily workout!

Helps teacher weave physical activity into academic lessons!

These activities capitalize on a child’s natural desire to be physically active and reduces sedentary time during the school day while promoting positive nutrition and health messages.

FAQ

Is this an evidence-based program?

Yes! The OrganWise Guys Comprehensive School Program was part of the only published longitudinal (multi-year) school-based study to show statistically significantly greater improvements in weight, blood pressure and waist circumference measures, as well as higher standardized test scores, of children in program schools as compared to children who were not.

These healthy and smart findings are published in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals – the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved. Click here to view research and request full publications

Are these materials linked to state standards?

Yes! We understand how limited time is for teachers as well as the numerous testing/reporting requirements from state and federal entities. Our goal is to make implementing this program as EASY as possible for teachers. These materials are linked to standards in ALL 50 states and can be accessed here

Are these materials linked to National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Standards?

Yes! Our materials are linked to STEM Standards for all elementary school grades. To access, click here, select grade, select topic, then click the yellow button that says “STEM Standards” to view standards.

Are there implementation guides?

Yes! Each grade level has an implementation guide to assist teachers in rolling out the program throughout the school year. Below is a sample page for Kindergarten. Click here to view all grade level guides

Are there evaluation tools?

Yes! Each grade level has a pre/post evaluation tool if evaluation is required. (Note: As a result of the statistically-significant health and academic outcomes and subsequent peer-reviewed publications, the program can often be implemented in the same manner as the schools in the study without the need for additional evaluation. This allows for greater reach as less time and effort is placed on teachers/schools). With the help of some of our university partners, we have also created a data entry excel file for each grade to assist in capturing program results. Click here to view all evaluation tools.

Are trainings available?

Yes! While this program is very streamlined and easy-to-implement, we recommend a short training to outline how this program can best work for this setting. We have free video trainings which can be viewed/used at anytime (it is also a great overview for you to view while considering this program).

For larger projects (multiple schools/district-wide), an in-person training by one of our program experts is often requested. To meet this need, we do offer a day rate of $2500 (which includes travel expenses in the U.S.). To decide which option is best for you, do not hesitate to call us at 800-786-1730.

Is this program cost-effective?

Yes! The initial year of program implementation is where the bulk of cost is incurred. The majority of the program materials (Core Kit, WISERCISE!, Foods of the Month Kit) are non-consumable and are designed for years of use. The consumable pieces are the individual student activity books, which are optional (but highly recommended) for each school year and are available at large quantity discounts.

The larger the school, the more cost-effective the program is. As an example, for a school with 500 students, a three-year school project (which includes EVERYTHING including activity books for all three years), the cost averages out to approximately $5.00 per student per year for this proven program.

Can the program be rolled out in stages?

Absolutely! Again, the program’s success is due in part to its flexibility to meet project/ budgetary constraints/needs. We know all schools/projects are unique! Many programs start out on a smaller scale (for instance, implementing the program in grades PreK-2nd or choosing to begin using one or more components (i.e., Foods of the Month, WISERCISE!, etc.) and then add on as momentum builds and budget allows.

As for including OrganWise components into health programming already in place – again, a resounding YES! The more nutrition and healthy lifestyle education kids receive, the better. We work with a wide variety of partners and programs so if you are helping kids improve their lives WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU! One of the unique features of these materials (especially our OrganWise Gal/Guy pictured here) is that they can assist in bringing any nutrition and physical activity to life!

Does this program have a parent component?

Yes! We understand the importance of helping busy families incorporate healthy choices into not only their children’s lives, but theirs as well. To assist schools with this objective, we have equipped them with ready- to-go Foods of the Month monthly newsletters (English/Spanish) which are available on the Foods of the Month website. These can be printed out and sent home or, if technology allows, schools can post these on their website. (Many OrganWise schools post these along with their cafeteria menu, which is an item popular with parents.)

For schools interested in an adult wellness education (for parents/worksite/adolescents), click here for our Take Charge of Your Health Speaker’s Kit. This is a perfect complement to The OrganWise Guys programming happening in your school!

Also, to help bring even more OrganWise Guys messaging home, we have developed our free resource page site for parents (and kids of all ages) to access for a wide variety of FREE OrganWise Guys items for families to enjoy!

Do the materials come in Spanish?

Yes! All of the storybooks for PreK/K, first and second grade are available in Spanish. We also have a variety of additional OrganWise Guys items in Spanish, which can be viewed here.

Are grants available for this program?

Yes! A large percentage of The OrganWise Guys Comprehensive School program has been provided to schools thanks to the generous funding from private foundations (large and small), corporate sponsors and as part of the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) in qualifying schools.

Our large network of both funding and implementing partners (nationally and locally), has allowed us to be very successful in assisting eligible organizations to obtain funding for this program in thousands of school across the country. For more information on how we might be able to assist with this please click here.

How does this program assist schools and communities in making policy, systems and environment (PSE) changes?

At the core of The OrganWise Guys programming is a message of self-empowerment and self-advocacy. Their motto is: We love who we live in, so please take care of us! As children learn that making healthy choices and being physically active are gifts they give their own OrganWise Guys and not a punishment, policy change becomes a bottom-up approach that is embraced. (We have seen it happen repeatedly. One example is a group of third graders who successfully started a petition to replace ice cream at school with low-fat yogurt! Small improvements + over time = PSE changes!)

By OrganWise-ing a school environment with consistent, positive messaging (in addition to the classroom curricula), such as playing a 30 or 60 second vignette during morning announcements, infusing the cafeteria with Foods of the Month materials, or incorporating the characters into art, music and P.E., the atmosphere becomes health promotion, increased energy, and social well-being. These beneficial, subtle reminders can be the catalyst for lifelong healthy habits.

While we are addressing our school program here, we know that for lasting change, a multi-sectoral, community-wide effort is required. Fortunately, for over two decades, and with the help experts and partners across the country, we have facilitated a wide variety of community-wide projects which have resulted in evidence-based programming into the following sectors: the home, early childhood, summer camps/after-school, health clinics, food banks, retail outlets, faith-based organizations and more.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans describe the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) which many public health experts agree illustrates how all sectors of society, including individuals and families, educators, communities and organizations, health professionals, small and large businesses, and policymakers combine to shape an individual’s food and physical activity choices, and ultimately one’s calorie balance and chronic disease risk. The OrganWise Guys could not agree more! Our programming fits into this model utilizing all three of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services recommended SNAP-Ed approaches below:

Here's what other educators are saying:

“This is a great program. The students love it! The counselors, art teachers, librarians and PE teachers relate it to the students lives and they stress the benefits of eating correctly, exercising, and how they grow into healthy adults.” ~ Carol T. Bailey, Marion County

“Prior to teaching The OrganWise Guys curriculum, I used many other tools in teaching nutrition and wellness. In my opinion, no other curriculum or lessons that have been taught have had the depth of impression on my students. Their ability to retain the information and understand the concepts has been far more significant using the OrganWise books, “puppets” and consumables than any other methods/lessons used. ~ Aimee Evans, School Counselor, Jackson-Madison County

“It is fun and motivating for the students. The character toys help make it real for the kids as they learn the names and functions of the organs. The emphasis of study for young children is key and relevant. This is a great project and we are very grateful for this opportunity.” ~ Daphne Johnson, Beech Bluff Elementary

Yes, please include a Core Kit for this quoteYes, please include individual student activity books in this quoteYes, please include the Foods of the Month kit in this quoteYes, please include WISERCISE! for each classroom in this quote

Please CONTACT me to discuss using this program in multiple schools in my district.